Creeper or antislip device for shoes



July 0 1929- I v. c. coNoVER ,7

CREEPER 0R ANTISLIP DEVICE FOR SHOES I File d Feb. 8, 1927 v avwavll oz'002' afono ver I Patented July 30, 1929' voonHIs CHARLES CONOVER, OFNORTH crAnRYrown, NEW YORK.

CREEPER OR ANTISLIP DEVICE FOR SHOES.

Application filed February 8, 1927.

' sidered in connection with theillustrated forms that are shown in thedrawing, wherein, i

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved creeper showing it applied to ashoe; I

Figure 2 is a plan view of the creeper shown in Figure 1, a part of thefastening element therefor being omitted; and

Figure 3 is a side View, in elevation, corresponding to Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing and to i the illustrated embodimentof the invention shown therein, my improved creeper preferably is madeof a single piece of rust-proof sheet metal, so that it can readily bebent to engage and hold itself in place on the-sole of a shoe. Herein, Ihave shown it as comprising a longitudinal strip 11 (see Figure 2),adapted to be held against the bottom of the shoe sole, and extendingfrom the ball of the foot to the toe. Integral with the strip 11 aretransverse strips 12 and 13, the transverse strip 12 being somewhatlonger than the strip 13 to correspond with the increased width of theshoe sole at the rear end of the strip 11..

As best shown in Figure 8, I prefer to puncture the strips 11, 12 and 13with numerous holes 1 f providing jagged projections or ends 15 to gripthe ice, or other surface. These perforations resemble an ordinarykitchen grater surface, and leave that portion of the strips whichengage the bottom of the sole smooth.

In order to provide means for attaching the creeper to the edges of thesoles of the shoes of different widths; in other Words, to make thecreepers easily adaptable to shoes of different sizes within a limitedrange, I pro vide upstanding arms or tabs 16 on the ends of thetransverse strips 12 and 13, as well as the forward end of the mainstrip 11. As

Serial No. 166,751.

clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, these arms 16 are bent substantiallyat right angles to the strips, and at their upper terminals have eyes17, in the form of loops, bent to receive 7 a strap 18 threaded throughall of them, and extending rearwardly to be attached around the rear endof the shoe. strap eyes bent slightly inwardly toward the shoe, andarranged at such height above the perforated strips as to permit them togrip over the top edge of the sole. This arrangement, in some instances,would be adequate for holding the creeper on a shoe, but I prefer toutilize a strap which conveniently may be made of leather or may beelastic, as may seem preferable.

To prevent the ends or edges of the loop eyes 17 from cutting the strip,I prefer to make them slightly curved in contour, so that they present asmooth surface throughout to the strap.

Upon putting on a pair of my improved creepers, the wearer will usuallyinsert, his shoes into the rear ends until the front end of the solestrikes the front tab or arm 16. Then, if the armson the cross strips 12and 13 do not engage the edges of the soles, he will bend them either byhand or with a suitable tool. so that the creepers will thereafter beadapted to the particular pair of shoes to which'they are applied. Then,the strap or elastic band is secured around the rear end of the shoe bymeans of a buckle, or other suitable iastening element, to'insure thatthe creeper will not slip off forwardly from the shoe.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that my improved creepermay be made very easily and economically by cutting and punchingoperations. Moreover, they are each made of a single piece of sheetmetal,

thereby avoiding any assembling operationsof a multiplicity of elements.Further, they can be sold very cheaply, and are very reliable lIl use. I

Having thus described one illustrative-em- I have shown the V branchesadapted to engage the edge of the shoe sole, eyes formed on the upperends of the upstanding arms and adapted to overlap the edges of thesole, and astrap threaded through said eyes to engage the rear portionof the shoe and hold the device thereon, said eyes presenting curvedWalls to the strap to prevent the edges thereof from cutting the strapand overlapping the edges of the shoe sole.

In testimony that I olaimthe foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature.

Voonrns CHARLES ooNovER.

